Hammer The Toff

BFI Most Wanted: the hunt for Britain's missing films

Directed by Maclean Rogers, 1952

The Toff goes after a master criminal who is trying to steal a secret formula.

'The Toff' (John Bentley) and Susan (Patricia Dayton) are captured by 'The Hammer'.

Credits

Director Production Company Original Novel Photography Editor Art Director Music	Maclean Rogers Nettlefold Films John Creasey Geoffrey Faithfull Jim Connock Alec Gray Wilfred Burns
Cast: John Bentley (Richard Rollison); Patricia Dainton (Susan); Valentine Dyall (Inspector Grice); John Robinson (Linett); Roddy Hughes (Jolly) Wally Patch (Bert Ebbutt); Vi Stevens (Emily Ebbutt); Basil Dignam (Superintendant); Charley Hawtrey (cashier)
71 mins, 6,438 feet, sound, black & white.

Why are we so keen to find it?

John Bentley was a popular second-feature star of the 1950s. He seems to have slotted in his two 'Toff' films (the second, Salute the Toff, is also on our Most Wanted list), in between his appearances as another famous sleuth, Paul Temple, in Calling Paul Temple (1948), Paul Temple's Triumph (1950) and finally Paul Temple Returns (1952). He was certainly busy, appearing in at least seven films in 1952 alone. Hammer The Toff was produced at Nettlefold Studios between August and September 1951.

What's it about?

While travelling by train for a holiday at the seaside resort of Brighthaven, Richard Rollison - aka 'The Toff' - is seated opposite a young lady when the window of their compartment is shattered by a hail of machine gun bullets. Rollison discovers that his companion, Susan Lancaster, is on her way to visit her uncle, Dr Lancaster. Arriving at their hotel, Susan discovers that her uncle is missing, but has left her a package. Later, Rollison overhears two men plotting to kidnap Susan. He learns that she and her uncle have been threatened by a vicious gang, whose leader is known only as 'The Hammer'.

Last seen?

The film was released in March 1952 by Butchers Films, and was sold to US television in 1953. It was shown in the UK on ITV in 1957, in a somewhat edited version running just under 60 minutes.

What else do we know about it?

It's possible that further 'Toff' movies were planned, but for unknown reasons, just two were produced.

Does anything survive?

Like its companion piece, Salute The Toff, it was originally part of the Butchers library, which has passed from the BBC to Thames and then to Carlton (now ITV). But it doesn't seem to be in the library now.

Reviews

Contemporary reviewers were appreciative. Daily Film Renter summed it up as, "lively, easily-assimilated strong-arm stuff with a whiff of comedy and a dash of romance," while Kine Weekly considered it "well staged, with a bright line of dialogue, and neat crime angles." Faulkner's Report, meanwhile, recommended it as "reliable British support." Today's Cinema seemed slightly less impressed, judging it "acceptable supporting entertainment for popular programmes".

Tony Mechele, Filmographic Services Officer, BFI National Library

You can find more about British films of the early 1950s, including entries on surviving films and video clips for users in UK schools, colleges, universities and public libraries, at BFI Screenonline. You can also view similar titles at the BFI Mediatheques.